Islam and Human Rights — Page 78
Isl am and Hum an R ights 78 mankind, you enjoin what is equitable [ma’roof ] and forbid evil and believe in Allah” (3:111). “Let there be among you a body of persons who should invite to goodness, and enjoin equity [ma’roof ] and forbid evil. It is they who shall prosper” (3:t05). It is characteristic of the Quran that it accords generous recognition to merit wherever it finds it. In the present context it refers to peoples who believe in other scriptures in these terms: “They are not all alike. Among the People of the Book there is a party who stand by their covenant, they recite the word of Allah in the hours of night and prostrate themselves before Him. “They believe in Allah and the Last Day, and enjoin what is good [ ma‘roof ] and forbid evil, and hasten, vying with one another, towards the doing of good. These are among the righteous. “Whatever they do, they shall not be denied its due reward. Allah well knows the God-fearing” (3:114-116). Articles 1 and 2 These article stress the freedom, equality and dignity of man. Being endowed with reason and conscience, men should act towards one another in a spirit of